The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1887-07-21

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Rutherfordton to enter upon the
study of law.
Then followed the scenes, which
embittered his life, shattered his
hopes and in a large degree terminal
ed his ambition. He belonged to
the Invisible Empire-so it was
charged and henever denied it. In
| North Carolina no defense of the
Ku Klux Klan is necessary. All
men know that the organization
fEst had the best objects in view,
but that the time came when excess
es were committed. Thegood work
performed by the order, in the days
when there was no law, was APP
plauded; the excesses were regret
ted. 1t was born of the necessities
Of the times and while such an order
of to-day would deserve severest de-
nunciation the conditions were diff
ferent then.
About this time the Klan did
what was unlawful and for this act,
when Capt. Shotwcll was not pres
ent and knew not of, he was arrest
ed. Before his arrest his friends
urged him to follow the example Of
others and leave the country, but
his reply was that of noble Ro-
man: "No; / have done nothing,
neither have | said anything, except
what the best interest of the people
required. I shall remain and defend
my course with my honor and my
life if need be. F."
So long as there is an ex-Confed-
crate soldier in North Carolina, SO
long as men teach their children
that the performance Of Duty is
higher than all else, SO long as hon
est men dare to do an honest deed
honestly, these words will be spoken
as a memorial of the courage and
bravery of Randolph A. Shotwell.
"Cast veil over them?" Heaven
forbid. There is inspiration to the
young in the recital of the deeds of
Mr.. Shotwell and in the repetition
of the words of this brave man. Let
the story of his life be handed down
from father to son! Let it be told
ever in North Carolina as an inspi-
ration to deeds of heroism and to a
life of self-sacrifice
But, because it is so sad story,
we would love to throw veil over
what followed. But it tells of the
sufferings of Mr.. Shotwell and must
be told to show how great is his
claim on our admiration.
Without capias or warrant he was
arrested on the 5th of July, 1870,
and thrust into an iron cage (7x1O
feet with three negro felons and
three white murderers, where he was
kept two months, the authorities not
even allowing him to have the deli
cacies prepared and sent by friends
and loved ones at home.
On a bright September Sabbath,
(the second day of the month) when
all the air solemn stiffness held
when church bells were calling to
the house of God when business
and the prosecution of the civil law
itself was suspended; when men
| turned aside from the busy toll of
the week to commune with their
Maker-on such a day the gallant
Randolph A. Shotwell, in the face
of the tears and prayers of his ven
erable father and the united plead
ing of a town, was handcuffed to a
chain with six others and marched
over the rough and rugged road 80
miles to Marion. with a hooting
jeering, sneering rabble of white
men and negroes following on horse
back, with instructions that if they
were overtaken by rescuing party
''to shoot and kill the prisoners"
Much can be said in palliation of
some of the unlawful acts of those
in authority Immediately after the war
because of the turbulent times, but
there are no words sufficiently de-
nunciatory to characterize that bar
barity.
| Sdpt. tCIiObNcft w us
brought to Raleigh for trial-or rath=
er for sentence, for it had already
| been determined that he must be
punished. 1t mattered not that the
ablest and most brilliant lawyers in
the State appeared for him, asking
nor accepting reward Among them
were ex-Gov. Bragg, Judge Strong,
Col. T. c. Fuller and Judge Fowle.
1t mattered not that the voice of~the
people of North Carolina went up as
if from one throat. asking his dismis-
sal. 1t mattered not that he swore
with directness and truth, of his in
nocence. Neither, nor all these
things could avail, and he was con
victed, Judge Bond presiding.
"Done to death by slanderous tongues"
We make no charge against the
court or jury. The simple repetition
of the facts tell more trumpet tongued
what was the character of its proceed
ure than any words can do. He was
convicted, or rather he was sentenced
to the penitentiary in order to make
an example of him. On the 9Th day
of October, 1870, he was carried to
Albany peniteEtiary, under sentence
of six years imprisonment and fine
of $4,000. How he was treated in his
prison-home what indignities were
heaped upon him how because, when
i'll, he was compelled to drink acid
from tin cup, cankered by its con-
tents, the drinking of which caused
every tooth in his head to decay how